Correct Answer:
B. The Act or Scheduled laws
An Authority's powers and jurisdiction are typically defined by the legislative framework that establishes it. Its ability to conduct inquiries is therefore limited to the scope of its mandate.
- B: The Act or Scheduled laws is the correct option. Authorities are usually created by a specific Act, and their powers extend to that Act and any other laws explicitly listed or "scheduled" within it, granting them specific jurisdiction.
- A: The Act only is too restrictive if the Authority's mandate also covers other specified laws.
- C: Any law in the world is incorrect; an Authority's jurisdiction is always geographically and legally bounded, not universal.
- D: Private disputes is incorrect; while some authorities might mediate disputes, their primary inquiry function is typically related to public law, regulatory compliance, or specific mandates, not general private matters unless explicitly stated.